The holidays are a special time in Anderson Valley. The days are darker,
weather colder, and foods richer. And Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice
Seasonal Ale is perfect for this time of year. Deep amber in color, with an
inviting aroma of spice and nutmeg, it was made for the turkeys,
cranberries, hams, and yams of the holidays. Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale
evokes a crackling fire, drifting snow, and smells of home. A hint of spice
and hop bite to balance out the creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and medium
sweetness.ABV: 6.9% IBU: 6

Aroma: Fresh dipped caramel apple comes to mind, lots of malt sweetness in the
nose with hints of fruit and a mild hop.

Taste: Full and chewy in the mouth with a vague hoppy juicy fruit and sweet dark
bread maltiness capture the taste buds attention. Both toasted and roasted
flavour flexes within the bold caramel taste. Mildly estery and warming to the
body. Tight and clean bite of hop bitterness cuts through some of the malt
leaving a spicy trail of flavour into the finish of residual sweetness.

Notes: Top shelf for American Winter brews, balanced for a muscular brew and a
must buy for winter seasonals. 6.9% abv.

History of Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Founded in 1987, the Anderson Valley Brewing Company brewed out of a 10-barrel
brewhouse, located in the lower level of its brewpub, The Buckhorn Saloon.
Gleaming stainless steel vats brewed and fermented barley and other specialty
grains to create outstanding ales, porters, stouts, and wheat beers. These brews
began as a dream of Kenneth Allen to create the smoothest tasting ales available
anywhere.

When the demand for our award winning ales exceeded the capacity of our
10-barrel brewery below the pub, we built our present 30-barrel facility at the
corner of Highways 128 and 253, a mile from the center of Boonville. That was in
1996, and this brewery saw us through a dramatic period of growth, which
included the introduction of a 12 ounce bottling line and a production level of
15,000 barrels in 1998, twice the amount brewed in 1997.

Yet, the brewery’s growth was outpacing its larger space and expanded capacity.
In 1998, construction began on a state-of-the-art, three-story Bavarian-style
brewhouse. The centerpieces of the brewhouse are gleaming 100- and 85- barrel
copper brew kettles rescued by Ken Allen from a defunct German breweries during
a trip to Europe in 1995. The new brewhouse went online in August of 2000.

By 2010 Ken Allen decided to retire and began to search for a successor to
continue the Anderson Valley commitment to quality. In April of 2010 the brewery
sold to industry veteran Trey White. In September of that year Fal Allen (former
general manager 2000 – 2004, no relation to Ken) returned to the brewery as
brewmaster. White has focused on innovation and quality, introducing the Bahl
Hornin’ Series, expanding the barrel aged program, and increasing brewing
capacity.